swinney



Sept. 13,1927.

A. N. SWINNEY AUTOMATIC MOTOR STOP Filed March 21, 1925 Paetec sept. 13,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

vNLBWINNIEY, l' 'HAO0N, IISSOUBI.

AUTOMATIC MOTOR STOP.

' Application med latch 21, 1925. serial lo. 17,835.

sible damage caused by insutlicient or ineii 1.3 cient lubrication, by automatically stopping the engine before the serious damage is done. Insuiiicient lubrication may be due to the neglect of the operator to provide a suicient amount of lubricating oil in the base or crank case, or it might be caused by accident or leakage which might escape the attention of the operator until the ignition circuit is broken by the improved automatic motor stop, thereby stopping the engine.

Inetiicient lubrication is regarded an exceedingly detrimental danger to motor operations, due primarily to crank case dilution, such as cannot always be avoided, the presence of the improved automatic stop serving 30 to break the ignition circuit and stop the motor when the oil does become diluted to a point where it is unt for proper lubrication.

Briefly, the device comprises a casing in which a pressure gage siphon or spring is located for acting upon a counterbalanced circuit closer, the arrangement being such that so long as the oil pressure is suflicient, the 'circuit is closed, but that the moment that the pressure recedes below a danger point the circuit is broken.

The particular construction, features and other advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawing.

In the accompanying drawing forming a l part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figu

broken away and shown in section to dis-` close the structure more clearly.

re 1 is aside elevation of a device con-v structed `in accordance with the present 1n- Figure' is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring system.

Referrin to the drawing in detail, the reference c aracter 1 designates a casing whlch, in practice may be of the approximate ovate shape shown or of any otherv approprlate configuration. This casing is provlded .at opposite points with apertured attachlng ears 2, the front of the casing bemg open and adapted to be closed by a removable flanged cover 3. Fastened within the casmg is a casting 4 which is preferably removably held in place by bolts or the like .5. This casting is provided with a bored passage 6 communicating at one end with an external screw threaded nipple 7 projecting beyond the rear face of the casing. It is'to be stated here that the oil pressure pipe is adapted to be connected with this nipple. Connected in any appropriate way to this casting 4 isa crescent shaped tube composed of approprlate spring metal. A finger 9 is secured to the free end of the tube and is in' turn pivotally connected to a link 10. This link is connected to the intermediate portion of an arm 11 pivoted as at 12 upon the aforesaid castin 4. Thev point of connection of the link is elow .the pivot. Carried on the upper end of the arm is a counterbalanced weight 13. On the lower end of the arm is a relatively movable contact element 14 adapted to cooperate with a relatively stat1onary contact element 15, the last named element being in association with the binding post 16, and the first 'named movable elements being electrically'connected with a second binding post 17 -through the medium of a wire 18. This wire'18 is of a length to permit free pivotal swinging movement of the arm 11. A conductor 19 is also connected with the binding post 16 and is adapted' to lead to the coil (not shown) while a similar conductor 20 is connected to the binding post 17 and extends to a manually operable control switch located preferably upon' the instrument board. In Figure 3 I have shown the approximate Wiring diagram and by direct attention'to this figure it will be seen that the last named conductor wire 20 is connected to one contact 21. Arranged in an arcuate line with the contact 21 is a second contact 22 from which a wire 23 leads to the battery. A still further contact 24 is provided from which a wire 25 leads to the coil.

A hand Aoperated lever 26 is pivotally mounted in any appropriate manner, and is provided with a fork 27, the arms/of which are adapted to bridge the selected contacts 21, 22 and 24.

The case 1 may beof steel stampings, die casts or any appropriate metal shaped in any convenient fashion. The casing also constitutes or provides a base by means of which l the device is securely fastened upon the instrumentl board, dash board, or any other place.

The casting 4 may be of brass, and of any convenient configuration, the same being screwed or otherwise detachably fastened within the casing. The casting may be provided with an integral nipple 7 already described. The tube 8 may be of copper, one end being secured to the casting and the other end left free to move in a given line of travel under the pressure produced therein by the oil pressure pump.

One of the most lmportant details of the device is the counter-balanced arm 11 provided with the counterbalancing weight 13. The counterba'lance feature of this arm not only reduces friction at the pivot point, but eliminates vibration to a minimum,l thereby makingthe device very sensitive to pressure and insuring positive action in actual practice as well as in theory. This counterbalanced arm is moved and controlled by means of the aforementioned connecting link 10 which is in turn acted upon by the action of the pressure producing a movement of the copper tube. The parts are so arranged as to produce an ideal ratio of movement of the link with res ect to the contacts on the arm 11. Specifica ly, the ratio is approximately eight to one whereby to permit a comparatively fast travel of the contact point with respect to the travel of the pressure operated tube, thus insuring a good solid and perfect contact of points through which the ignition circuit is properly maintained.

The binding posts or contact parts are all insulated from any adjacent metal part to protect the source of electrical supply and prevent the possible formation of ground which would'impair the operation of the device. Although it is not essential, platinum contact points are preferably used, this particular grade of metal having a very high fusing point that will withstand the electric arc occurring each time the electric circuit is opened. The ignition hand operated switch used is of the three point type having one point connecting with the source of electrical supply or ignition circuit, while one of the other contact points is secured in a line direct from the switch to the ignition coil or Idistributor set. This line is known as the starting line, indicated in the drawing. It is thought that the method of operation of the device including the proper'positions of the switch is clear if the foregoing description has been read carefully in connection with the accompanying drawing. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

The foregoing features are to be borne in mind. With the use of a manually controlled ignition switch, should the motor of an automobile, truck or other similar vehicle stop, due to low oil pressure, caused by dilution, the operator would still be able to throwthe switch over to starting position and drive the car for several miles until he could reach the filling station for a new supply of oil. The device will absolutely stop a motor in case that the automobile or other vehicle is upset, thereb eliminating danger of lire and possibility o loss of life or limbs from this condition.

Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is As a new product of manufacture, a motor lubrication safety device of the class described comprising a casing of general ovate configuration, said casing comprising a hollow section open on one side having attaching ears, and a removable cover plate, a block-like casting mounted in said casing at one end, said casting being provided with a fluid passage with which a fluid pressure supply pipe is adapted to be connected, a flexible fluid conducting tube connectedat one end with the passage in said casting and having its free end located in said casing for movement in a predetermined arcuate path, an arml pivotally 'mounted between its ends on. said casting, said' arm having a counterbalance weight on one end, an electric contact carried by the opposite end of the arm, a fixed contact in said casing with which said arm carried contact is cooperable, and a link connection between the free end of said tube and the intermediate portion of said arm, said tube being of flexible material and adapted to contain a fluid under pressure for flexing the same to assume a predetermined position and maintain the contacts in engagement with each other, under normal lubricating conditions.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

l ALONZO N. SWINNEY, 

